What happened: The San Diego Padres have lost 11 of their last 13 games and now sit on the outside of a playoff berth, according to USA Today's Bob Nightengale. The skid has pushed them out of the National League postseason picture nearly halfway through the 2026 season.
Why it matters: The slide threatens a roster built to contend and has intensified scrutiny on the clubhouse and front office. It extends a rough stretch that already included a 9-4 loss in Washington, and Manny Machado's downturn at the plate has been a central drag on the lineup.
By the numbers: Machado is hitting .169 with a .596 OPS nearly halfway through the season. San Diego has gone 2-11 over its last 13 games to drop out of postseason position.
What to watch: Watch whether San Diego responds with a roster or staff shake-up and how it fares over its next several games to climb back into the race.